Direct Manipulation Interfaces
A cognitive account of the strengths and weaknesses of direct-manipulation interfaces and the origins of the feeling of directness.
Citation
Hutchins, E. L., Hollan, J. D., & Norman, D. A. (1985). Direct Manipulation Interfaces. Human–Computer Interaction, 1(4), 311–338.
Method
Theoretical analysis.
Claims used
- Directness arises when the distance between users' intentions and the system's facilities is small.
- Direct manipulation requires the system to present objects that behave as if they were the objects themselves.
Limitations: A theoretical framework, not a measurement study; does not focus on animation.
Extracted principles
- Interruptible motionSupported
Rapidly successive state changes must remain interruptible: motion should reverse from its current position instead of jumping or ignoring input.
MotionMicrointeractions